Adel al-Jubeir: Iran Smuggles Explosives to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia

On Wednesday, September 1, Saudi Foreign Minister Adel al-Jubeir accused Iran of sending weapons to the Houthis and smuggling explosives to Bahrain, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia. Tehran rejected this accusation, stating that Riyadh officials should learn from the fate of Saddam Hussein. According to Reuters, al-Jubeir, who is in Beijing, stated that his country will not allow Iranian-allied Houthis to dominate Yemen. Bahram Qasemi, the Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman, warned Saudi officials to always keep the fate of 'international troublemakers' like Saddam in mind. He said, 'Saudi officials, who have trapped themselves in a bloody quagmire of terrorism and the slaughter of innocent children and women in Yemen, Syria, and Iraq due to gross strategic errors, should think about correcting their methods instead of making desperate cries and repeating worn-out claims against others.' The Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman accused Saudi Arabia of 'stirring up fires in the region' and 'being involved in terrorist operations.' Al-Jubeir, in another part of his speech, emphasized Saudi support for the Yemeni government, stating, 'The ball is now in the Houthis' court, and they have the opportunity to join peace negotiations to reach an agreement that benefits all the people of Yemen.' The Saudi Foreign Minister accused Iran of 'trying to spread insecurity in the region,' stating that 'Iran, through military intervention and support for the Houthis, is fueling unrest in Yemen.' Previously, U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry had also accused Iran of sending missiles and weapons to Yemen. He stated on August 25 at a press conference in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, 'The dangers posed by Iran's shipment of missiles and other advanced weapons extend beyond Yemen and are not just a threat to Saudi Arabia and the region. This is a threat to America and cannot continue.' Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif interpreted Kerry's remarks as a 'partnership' in what he described as 'war crimes and inhumane acts of the Saudi regime against the innocent and oppressed people of Yemen.' Zarif, rejecting the accusation of sending weapons to Yemen, stated that 'Iran's military capability has never been a threat to any country and is purely defensive.' The Saudi Foreign Minister expressed hope that Tehran and Riyadh could be good neighbors like before the 1979 revolution, adding that 'this depends on Iran changing its behavior.' The Shia Houthis of Yemen are supported by Iran and have overthrown President Abdrabbuh Mansur Hadi, who is backed by major Arab countries in the region and whose government is recognized by the UN and the international community as the legitimate government of Yemen. An Arab coalition led by Saudi Arabia began its attacks on the rebels in April of last year after the Houthis and their allies seized a large part of Yemen. The United Nations announced on September 1 that at least ten thousand people have been killed and three million displaced during the 18 months of conflict in Yemen.